Basic substantial components of the subject "the Siberian primary school" which are presented on pages of pedagogical private periodicals of the beginning of the XXth century are characterized in the article. Focusing readers' attention on shortcomings of regional primary school the central pedagogical editions included them in the general outline of the problems connected with development of the Russian national education system, and also showed their critical relation to the policy of the regional authorities.

Key words: history of education, pedagogical press, literacy, Siberian school, primary school, ministerial school, church-parochial school, teaching.